Since I’m a LabVIEW guru, I couldn’t let the VNA project go without a good LabVIEW driver and application software. The current version requires the G8KBB USB interface. Because LabVIEW is platform-independent, there are some I/O driver options. Under Windows, you can use the G8KBB DLL as the driver, or NI-VISA. On the Mac, you must use NI-VISA. To look at the source code, you must have LabVIEW 2014 or later. The full version of LabVIEW is required. You can download an evaluation copy from National Instruments.

LabVIEW Software Support for the VNA

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VNAView is a full-featured VNA application including calibration management, linear and log scanning, analysis and graphing of many computed parameters, Smith chart, RLC network fitting, and exporting data to tab-delimited text files. Since it’s LabVIEW, all the diagrams (source code) are there and you can instantly modify anything you want. Also, it’s easy to integrate the VNA application with other tests. The basic LabVIEW driver that I supply allows access to all VNA features including DDS setup, ADC acquisition, and setting digital output bits. Higher-level functions implement various VNA calibration algorithms including single-port reflection, reflection plus thru, and a full S-parameter test set. This document has some screenshots and notes: VNAView Info.pdf

Here is the compiled, executable Windows version: VNAView Win R5.4 3-3-16.zip Installations instructions are in the zip file. You will need to download and install the LabVIEW run-time engine.

If you’re interested in hacking this software, here is the source code for the Windows version: VNAView VIs Win R5.4 LV14.zip (.zip archive, about 4 MB). Requires LabVIEW 2014 development system (full or home version). Mac version also available on request; it has minor driver differences. If you’re intrepid, this can also run under Linux but I have no experience with that, especially on the driver side.

Mac or Windows. I offer full LabVIEW source as well as compiled versions for Windows and Macintosh OSX. Also, Mac users can run the Windows version under virtualization environments such as VMWare or Parallels. There is a very affordable ($50) home version of LabVIEW available as of mid-2015 and it is the same as the Full Development System that normally sells for $3000. It’s sold through various vendors. SparkFun offers an inventor’s kit that includes an Arduino development set. Digilent sells the development system alone for $50.